What would you bring Duigan and Laidler in for specifically?

Well we’ve now completed our first training run for the week and are all trying to get over the Essendon* result. It ain’t easy, because we felt we played well enough almost for long enough to win that game.

In saying that, and as I’ve said before, we’re in desperate need of playing four quarters of football and eliminating those 5-10-minute periods where we don’t control the ball for long enough and thereby allow the opposition to score.

We don’t know whether we’ve yet identified the area, but I can tell you we worked extremely diligently yesterday to overcome some of the problems that have occurred. Whether that equates to a win I’m not too sure, but the players are very aware of what’s required, having each gone through the process and dissected last Friday night’s game.

While our VFL team turned in a horrible first half against Geelong, the players did fight back in the second – which gives us great hope that some of them can stand up and come into calculation for selection for the Hawthorn contest on Friday night.

Hawthorn is a wonderful football side and has been for a number of years. The Hawks, having lost the first game, have taken out the next nine, so clearly they represent a massive challenge for us.

Admittedly Carlton hasn’t beaten Hawthorn for some considerable time. In saying that, this group is a different group altogether and we quite rightly need to be as optimistic as is humanly possible for the next game.

Put simply, if the match committee puts the right team out on the park and the players adhere to every instruction then we can win games of football.

This challenge, like all challenges, is great. But life’s all about challenges and it goes without saying we’re all looking forward to Friday night and Hawthorn.

Kind regards

Mick Malthouse
Member ID 2930412

But which kind of Rolling Zone/Tempo football do you usually have here.

Country or Western???

In : Average plodder that will fumble and miss easy goals at crucial stages

Out: Yarran ( Bad body language) that will squib marking contests and miss easy goals at crucial stages

It won't be a game of speed so if you are going to give Laidler a chance to prove himself this is the game, he could go either forward or back and he deserves a go due to his VFL form. We need a third taller player on the forward line whether that is Menzel or Laidler I don't care but we need another target especially when Waite or Casbolt are resting or Casbolt is rucking and Kreuzer is on the bench.
Simpson can take Lucas spot on the wing this week, he can play outside and is not afraid to get his hands dirty when required, he does not lack courage which will be an essential ingredient against the Hawks. Duigan replaces Simpson in the back half although his kicking will be a big concern.

If Duigan plays senior footy for this club while we're still a finals chance I'll !@#$%&;ing spew!

Not a fan then?
He was in the mix for captaincy wasn't he?
Geez that could've got uncomfortable.

Anyway, how come no one's called for McLean or Armfield to be dropped yet?

Perhaps because they've been among the consistent better performers

Can't drop Armfield. He's going to be needed at CHB on either Buddy or Roughead.

Oh, we got both kinds. We got country *and* western!

Oh, we got both kinds. We got country *and* western!

Hawks to utilise Ratten's IP



Carlton by 127 points....

Why would Armfield be dropped? He'd be about our 4th best this year. Kept Hibberd quiet last week...done everything MM has asked of him and more this year.